Apparatus for treating textiles



July 29, 1969 A. KORSCH 3,457,741

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES Filed Dec. 19. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 29, 1969 A. Kom. 3,451,141

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES v Filed Dec. 19, 1967 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,457,741 APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES Alfred Korsch, Krefeld, Germany, assignor to Joh.

Kleinewefers Sons, Krefeld, Germany, a corporation of lGermany Filed Dec. 19, 1967, Ser. No. 691,821 Int. Cl. D06f 47/02, 35/00; D06p 1/00 U.S. Cl. 68-28 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for treating textiles with fluids such as wash waters, dyes and the like characterized by two plates, one below and one above the textile being treated, whereby the plates move in a repeating, synchronized, eccentric motion such that the first and second plates approach each other, engage the textile between the plates, move in the direction of the path of the textile and separate from each other thereby releasing7 the textile and then return to again approach each other. Contained in the upper plate is a spray means for introducing fluid into the textile, while in the lower plate, drain means are provided to remove fluid from the path of travel of the textile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Apparatus for washing or dyeing textiles which have been used in the prior art include devises for passing the web through a container of the liquid and thereafter passing the textile through two squeeze rollers. The liquor is collected and reused. Oftentimes, a pair of squeeze rollers are used, whereby prior to each entry into each squeeze roller gap the textile is sprayed with fresh liquor.

The basis for the effectiveness of these apparatus and methods known in the art is essentially that the textile web is saturated with fresh liquor such as like a sponge, and that subsequently this liquor is discharged, again like in the case of a sponge, after the function of the liquor has been performed.

The present invention employs the principle of saturating the textile with liquor and thereafter squeezing the textile to discharge the liquor, whether the liquor be a wash water, a dye, an impregnation chemical or other iiuid used in the treating of textiles. The present apparatus is eicient, economical, space saving, and operates at relatively low operating costs.

In its simplest form, the invention contemplates an apparatus containing two plates which are synchronized to act in a repeating eccentric motion to cause the two plates to approach each other, engage the textile between the plates, move in the direction of the path of the textile, separate from each other whereby the textile is released and then return to again approach each other. The plates contain grooves which permit alternating pressure and no pressure areas on the textile to further insure the complete penetration of the uid being ernployed. The uid is applied through spray means located in one of the plates, and the excess fluid as it is squeezed from the textile is collected by drain means located in the other plate. One particular advantage of the present invention is that the fresh liquor penetrates a large surface area of the textile being treated, whereby on the surface being treated a uniform clearly visible fluid layer is formed which is `first pressed into the textile and then displaced through the textile into the draining portion of the lower plates.

The grooves employed in the plates of the apparatus of this invention may be of different design in relation to each other or to the grooves of the other plate. The grooves may form a regular repeating pattern or may ICC be designed in an irregular pattern, depending upon the particular choice of the manufacturer. The grooves may be spaced apart from each other by any reasonable distance, although it is preferred that the grooves be spaced from approximately 1A" to 4" apart. Moreover, the faces of the grooves on at least one plate may be convex or arched to provide a differential pressure which would be exerted on the corresponding area of the textile. In addition, the grooves may be coated with elastic layers so as to provide a cushion on one or both of the plates.

Many other features, advantages and additional modications of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which preferred structural embodiments of the apparatus of this invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a lateral view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the present invention in the operating direction; and

FIGURE 3 is a section in the area 3 of FIGURE 1 in enlarged presentation.

The textile web 1 to be treated passes through the apparatus 2 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE l. A pair of traction rollers 4 is arranged behind the apparatus to pull the textile web through the apparatus 2, to thereby avoid creases and slack. In addition, a compensating roller 5 on the feed side of the apparatus 2 serves the same purpose.

As shown in 'FIGURE l, the apparatus 2 is installed in a strong frame 6. Crankshafts 8 `are installed in stationary bearings 7 and carry at the offset cranks 9 by means of bearings 10 which are attached to an upper or first plate 11 and a lower or second plate 12.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the Crankshafts are propelled by ratio gears 13 at both ends of the shaft, with the wheels or gears being driven by a drive shaft 14 at whatever speed is desired. The Crankshafts are adjusted so that both plates act in a repeating synchronized eccentric motion such that the two plates approach each other, engage the textile between the plates, move in the direction of the path of the textile, separate from each other, thereby releasing the textile, and finally return to again approach each other. Although it is not essential, it is preferred that plates 11 and 12 be parallel to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, one of the two plates is adjustable so that the thickness of the gap produced as a result of the movement of the plates towards each other, and/or the amount of the pressure exerted by the plates on the goods passing through can be adjusted as a function of the quality of the goods in the operating procedure.

To compensate for the rotating moment of the plates, counterpoises 15 are placed on the crankshaft as counterbalances.

The upper press plate 11 is provided with several rows of spray nozzles 16 connected to a feed conduit 17 which in turn can be connected to various containers with the same or different fluids contained therein. The `upper plate, the lower plate or both plates may be covered with an elastic coat 18 whereby a cushion effect is achieved. The discharging liquor is removed through drain means 19 to a discharge panel 22.

In both of the plates 11 and 12, a series of grooves 20 are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path of the textile being processed by the apparatus 2. The effect of these grooves 20 is to provide a series of teeth 21 which in effect increases the specific 3 pressure on the product and acts as gripping teeth for the movement of the fabric with the plates. Iln addition, a form of capillary efect for removing the liquor is achieved.

The stroke of the cranks 8, the length of the plates 11 and 12 and the direction of travel, as well as the space and width of the grooves 20 may be varied widely. Generally, these values are so selected such that the surface area of the teeth 21 defined by the two adjacent grooves 20 overlap slightly, while still maintaining an adequate rate of travel of the textile through the apparatus. Various experiments have been performed which show that speeds of an excess of 2800 rpm. are possible with a crank stroke of, for example, 2 inches, to thereby produce a rate of travel of the textile of 50 to 80 yards per minute. This has been found to be quite adequate for most applications.

The operation of the present apparatus allows for many individual processes to be performed. At high pressing pressures, the apparatus can operate as a squeezing and wide Washing machine, whereby as a result of the impacting of the teeth 21, the huimidity or Water content of the textile is pressed along to a subsequent groove 20 with discharge conduits 19. For impregnating and/ or blocking purposes the pressing pressures are set lower, whereby the liquor sprayed on is pressed into the inner layer of the product and is distributed evenly but not entirely squeezed out.

Moreover, the production can be increased by increasing the traction achieved from the traction rollers 4. Although teeth 21 intermittently engage the product at the moment of squeezing, the traction is uniform because the elasticity of the product completely equalizes the short-lived halting of the product.

The press plates may be propelled by motor drive as shown in the drawings, or by vibrators energized by electric or pnuematic means. Moreover, the plates may be divided into a series of individual plates where by different pressures could be exterted on the fabric in different positions within the apparatus. Other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating textiles with fluids, comprising:

rst drive means for drawing said textile through said apparatus, thereby dening a path;

a first plate, positioned above said path, said plate having a plurality of grooves in the plate faced nearest said path, said grooves being substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said path;

a second plate, positioned below said path, said second plate having a plurality of grooves in the plate faced nearest said path, said grooves being substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said path;

second drive means .attached to said rst plate and said second plate and adapted to move said plates in a repeating, synchronized, eccentric motion such that said first and said second plates approach each other, engage said textile between said plates, move in the direction of said path of said textile, separate from each other, thereby releasing said textile and return to again approach each other;

spray means located in said -rst plate and adapted to introduce Huid into said textile; and

drain means located in said second plate and adapted to remove uid from said path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grooves in said plate are positioned directly above the grooves in said second plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grooves in at least one plate are formed in an irregular pattern.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plates are parallel with respect to each other and to the path.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the face of at least one plate between the grooves is convex.

6. The `apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distance between said grooves ranges from 1A inch to 4 inches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said faces of at least one of said plates is coated with an elastic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second drive means is adjustable to vary the pressure exerted during engagement of said textile between said plates.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spray means contain a plurality of spray nozzles adapted 'to receive fluids from a plurality of supply sources, and said drain means is contained in said grooves of said lower plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second drive means comprises 4a first crankshaft attached to said irst plate and a second crankshaft attached to said second plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,415,691 5/1922 Patt 68-28 2,441,308 5/ 1948 Bond 68-43 XR 3,064,459 ll/ 1962 Messinger 68-175 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,214 9/ 1874 Great Britain. 1,648 4/187 7 Great Britain.

IROBERT L. BLEUTGIE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

